HISTORY OF ART AND INTERIOR DESIGN (draft note)

Art

Meaningful arrangement of elements, words, sounds, colors, and shapes.

Decorative Arts

Arts including painting, sculpture, glassware, ceramics, pottery, metallurgy.

Racial (Art Analysis Element)

Refers to the people who originated the art.

Epochal (Art Analysis Element)

Refers to the period during which the art flourished.

Individual (Art Analysis Element)

Refers to the originator of the art.

Character (Art Analysis Element)

Describes whether the art is classic or romantic.

Factors Influencing Evolution of Style

Elements that can affect art styles including religion, geography, politics, availability of materials.

Paleolithic Period

Old Stone Age (80,000 to 10,000 BC) known for pigment use and cave paintings.

Venus of Willendorf

A portable art figurine symbolizing fertility.

Mesolithic Period

Middle Stone Age (10,000 to 8,000 BC) marked by settled communities and farming.

Neolithic Period

New Stone Age (7,000 to 3,000 BC) characterized by the use of mud bricks and permanent villages.

Cromlech

A prehistoric monument consisting of a circle of stones.

Ziggurat

A massive structure built in ancient Mesopotamia, resembling a terraced step pyramid.

Cuneiform

A system of writing used in ancient Mesopotamia.

Ishtar Gate

A monumental structure decorated with glazed tiles in ancient Babylon.

Sphinx

A mythical creature with a human head and a lion's body from ancient Egypt.

Imhotep

Considered the first recorded artist in Western history, known for designing pyramids.

Papyrus Bundle

A type of column capital made from papyrus plants.

Acropolis

A monumental complex in ancient Greece, often built on elevated ground.

The Parthenon

A temple dedicated to Athena, showcasing Doric architectural style.

Caryatids

Female sculptured columns found in the porch of the Erechtheion temple.

Cyclopean Architecture

Large-scale architecture characterized by massive stone construction, typical of Mycenaean civilization.

Amphora

A tall ancient Greek or Roman jar with two handles and a narrow neck.

Kylix

A type of ancient Greek drinking cup with a broad, shallow body and two handles.

Hydria

A type of Greek pottery vessel used for carrying water, typically with three handles.

Roman Realism

A style in Roman art that aimed to depict subjects, especially portraits, with great accuracy and attention to detail.

Colosseum

An ancient amphitheater in Rome, used for gladiatorial contests and publicspectacles.

Pantheon

A former Roman temple, now a church, in Rome, known for its large dome.

Catacombs

Underground burial places used by early Christians and others.

Basilica

In Roman architecture, a large public building, often used as a court of law or for public assemblies.

Byzantine Art

Art produced during the Byzantine Empire, characterized by rich colors, stylized figures, and religious subject matter.

Hagia Sophia

A grand Byzantine cathedral in Istanbul, later converted into a mosque, known for its massive dome.

Mosaics

Art made from small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials.

Illuminated Manuscripts

Handwritten books from the Middle Ages adorned with elaborate decorations and illustrations.

Carolingian Renaissance

A period of cultural and intellectual revival during the reign of Charlemagne in the late 8th and 9th centuries.

Westwork

The monumental, multi-storied entrance section of a Carolingian or Romanesque church.

Reliquaries

Containers for sacred relics, often made of precious materials and adorned with intricate designs.

Romanesque Art

The art of Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 12th century, characterized by rounded arches and massive structures.

Tympanum

The semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch.

Trumeau

The central pillar or post of a portal, often decorated with sculpture.

Gothic Art

The art of Europe from the mid-12th century to the 16th century, characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses.

Stained Glass

Colored glass used for windows or decorative applications, especially in Gothic cathedrals.

Flying Buttress

An exterior arch that supports a wall, especially in Gothic cathedrals, allowing for larger windows and thinner walls.

Rose Window

A circular window, often stained glass, typically found in Gothic cathedrals.

Renaissance

The period from 1400 to 1600 AD, marking a revival of interest in classical art and culture.

High Renaissance

A style of Renaissance art characterized by harmony, balance, and ideal proportions.

Sfumato

A painting technique that creates soft, hazy edges to create depth and realism.

Neoclassicism

A revival of classical art and architecture in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Baroque

A grand and ornate style of European art from the 17th century, characterized by drama, rich color, and elaborate decoration.

Rococo

A Late Baroque artistic movement that combined baroque architecture with stucco, sculpture, and fresco painting.